The fourth update of TaylorMade’s P790 iron, a powerhouse in the player’s-distance category since 2017, is just around the corner.

Set for release this September, TaylorMade have progressed the P790 without messing with the attributes that have made the irons hugely popular.

That popularity extends across a broad section of the handicap spectrum too, with both low and high handicappers embracing what the P790 iron offers.

While external appearances have changed for the better, it’s inside the clubhead where the new P790 has really evolved.


 

A.I.-INSPIRED PERFORMANCE

More speed and consistency, a higher launch, a reduction of spin and, ultimately, increased distance is what P790 irons are renowned for.

In the 2023 version of the P790, each of those elements have been elevated to a new level of performance thanks to the great A.I. bonanza that is revolutionising club design.

Much of the A.I. design effort has been focused on achieving a more efficient distribution of mass within the confines of the P790’s hollow clubhead.

And that has resulted in more specific, and individualised, performance for every iron in the P790 set.

WHAT’S NEW?

A recurring theme with the new P790 iron design is “strategic mass placement”.

Every single gram of mass within the club head has been accounted for. And it starts with the P790’s face.

A redesign has made the forged L-face more responsive across every part of it, with an expanded sweet spot increasing speed and accuracy. 

Meanwhile, TaylorMade have instigated a new variable thickness rear wall on the P790 iron. The honeycomb-like design redistributes mass to where it can be more effective, which in this case comes in the form of the customised tungsten weighting within the P790’s hollow head.

CUSTOMISED CENTRE OF GRAVITY

The P790’s purpose-driven tungsten weighting, which has been shifted closer to the toe, is the main contributor to what TaylorMade call their FLTD CG design.

By altering the centre of gravity in each iron — chiefly by varying the size and position of the tungsten weight — FLTD CG performance is tuned to meet a specific purpose.

It means the P790 long irons have a lower centre of gravity that creates an easy-to-launch ball flight. 

The short irons are tuned with a higher centre of gravity that increases spin and maintains a more controlled and consistent trajectory.

In combination with the forged face and Speed Pocket slot on the sole, FLTD CG optimises launch and forgiveness throughout the P790 set.

FEEL AND SOUND

Hollow-bodied irons generally need a little love so they don’t sound like an empty glass bottle rolling around in a car boot at impact.

TaylorMade’s SpeedFoam Air, a bubble-filled goo injected into the hollow cavity via the screw on the toe, returns in the new P790 model.

It fills the internal void to minimise vibration while also supporting the thin and flexible forged P790 face, making the irons sound as good as they feel.

This time round though, TaylorMade have incorporated an internal “sound stabilsation” bar that links the rear of the club head with the internal face architecture.

It yields improved acoustics and elevates the feel of the soft forged face insert beyond previous P790 iron models.

P790 STOCK SHAFTS

The 2023 TaylorMade P790 irons feature the same shaft options as their 2021 predecessors. 

True Temper Dynamic Gold steel shafts (105 stiff, 95 regular) should help players get the ball in the air and extract more distance out of their P790 irons.

The same goes for the stock graphite option. It’s a Mitsubishi Chemical MMT (in stiff, regular and senior flexes) that is designed to produce a high-launching trajectory. 

TAYLORMADE P790 IRON SPECS

• Hand: Right/Left
• Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold 105 (steel – X100, S300); True Temper Dynamic Gold 95 (steel – R300); Mitsubishi Chemical MMT (75-s, 65-r, 55-a)
• Grip: Golf Pride Z-Grip 52g